Foot-plate.



No. 7l7,205. Patented Dec. 30, I902.

F. F. HUSSEY.

FOOT PLATE.

(Application filed Feb. 28, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS F. HUSSEY, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOOT-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,205, dated December30, 1902.

Application filed February 28, 1901. Serial no. 49,186. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS F. HUSSEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and use ful Improvement inFoot-Plates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention comprises a footplate for supporting a portion of the foothaving the characteristics hereinafter indicated.

It consists of an improved form of metal plate or spring designed toforce the central portion of the plantar fascia, together with themuscles lying immediately beneath it, up into the hollow of the foot andto otherwise serve to support and relieve other portions of the foot, aswill better appear by reference to the drawings, wherein- Figure 1represents the plan of a No. 6 plate, actual size. Fig. 2 is a view inlongitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a View in cross-section upon thedotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view in cross-sectionrepresenting the plate as associated with leather coverings. Fig. 5 is aview in plan of the left foot, representing the position in dotted linesof the plate beneath it. Fig. 6 is a view in vertical cross-section,enlarged, upon the dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 5, also representing incross-section the plate.

The shape of my plate in its broadest part G H, Fig. 1, corresponds verynearly to a line drawn just back of the heads of the metatarsal bones ofthe foot under which it rests on the sole of a shoe, and the plategradually tapers through nearly its entire length, broadening outslightly at its second point of contact F with the shoe just forward ofthe heel of the foot. Its breadth in its widest point is for the purposeof affording a firm foundation or support, thus preventing any twistingof the plate either to one side or the other, and it is generally notnecessary to carry it any farther outward than the third or fourthmetatarsal bone-viz., the point H, Fig. 5.

The inward curve F H given to the outer edge of the plate (see Figs. 1and 5) is for the purpose of avoiding pressure by the plate upon themuscle known as the abductor minimi digiti, the course of which isrepresented in Fig. 5 by the dotted line m n, and especially under theouter border of the os calcis and cuboid bonesand also to bring thegreatest pressure just back of the instep E (see Fig. 6) or what wouldcorrespond to a position under the outer border of the astragalus andnavicular bones and the inward border of the cuboid bone. The lateralslant of the arc of the plate varies according to different feet, but isalways such .as to press very lightly, if at all, (in the normal foot,)against the muscle called the abductor hallucis.

The shape of the inner edge of the plate corresponds to the inner borderof the foot, (see Figs. 1 and 5,) except that it has a general tendencyto curve outward, (from the line 2 2 in Fig. 1.)

In general the outward curve of the inner edge of the plate abovereferred to is very slight, as is shown in the drawings, when theweakened arch of the foot in question is not too pronounced, but is veryapparent when the deformity is marked, and greater pressure is necessaryunder the inner border of the foot.

In other respects the shape of the surface of the plate conforms asnearly as practicable to the portion of the arch of the foot which itsupports. When a very rigid support is required,{as for cases of chronicfiat-foot, the shape of the outer edge of the plate corresponds morenearly to the inner border of the abductor minimi digiti muscle alreadyreferred to, and the broader base of the plate is carried out under thefourth or fifth metatarsal bone.

The plate is made of steel and is springtempered, as it is intended toprovide a yielding support tothe foot; but in rare cases it may benecessary to make it perfectly rigid. It is usually covered with leatherin the ordinary way, (see Fig. 4,) but may be permanently fastened inthe shoe and covered with a suitable insole.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent ofthe United States- A foot-plate of rigid materialand adapted to be carried in the shoe having the broad forward base G H,the narrow rear bearing F, the side curves F H and GH of varying musclesand allowing the pivotal action of curvature as described, an insidelateral the foot, thereby correcting the deformity as slanting surfaceof varying degree, and the I described.

plate longitudinally arched throughout to] FRANCIS F. HUSSEY. conform asnearly as possibleto the arch of the normal foot, all for the purpose ofraising the flattened arch, avoiding interfering Witnesses:

F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, SAUL SIPPERSTEIN.

